Apparatus for transferring the products of metal rolls



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' P. H. DANIELS.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPERRING THE PRODUCTS OP METAL ROLLS. No. 369,508.Patented Sept. 6, 1887 67 WITJV'EESEE fNl/AENTUH.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheet S-Sheeo 2. P. H. DANIELS.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE PRODUGTSOF METAL ROLLS. No. 869,503.Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

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APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING-THE PRODUCTS 0P METAL ROLLS.

No. 369,508. Patented Sept. 6,- 1887. V

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FRED I-I. DANIELS, OF \VOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRlNG THE PRODUCTS OF METAL BULLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,503, datedSeptember 6, 1887.

Application filed February 9, 1887.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED H. DANIELS, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vorcester, in the county of I'Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful ImproveinentsinRollingldill Transfer and Charging Apparatus, of which the following,together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufficientlyfull, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to whichthis invention appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of this my present invention are, first, to provide apractical and cfficicnt mechanism for mechanically transferring billetsor bars of metal from the. discharge-table of a rolling-mill or otherdelivery to a desig nated place of deposit; second, to provide means formechanically transferring billets or bars of metal from a delivery-bedand automatically charging the same into a heatingfurnace; third, toprovide means for separating, shearing, or cutting up bars or billets asthey are delivered from a rolling-mill into sections of desired length,and automatically transferring; and delivering the sections into aheating-furnace, or depositing them at such other place of deposit asrequired; fourth, to provide a billet-conveyor or transferring mechanismhaving intermediate delivery passes and adjustable gates at intervalsalong the transfer-way to aii'ord facilities whereby the billets or barscanbe delivered at several different positions; fifth, to afford acharging mechanism with a system of rolls or adjacent advancingsurfaceswhich, when the billet is deposited between them, act to impelthe billet longitudinally forward to the position of discharge; sixth,to provide a mechanism forlongitudinally charging billets or bars,consisting or a system of convergent rolls supported by upright shafts,between the advancing sur' faces of which the billet is gripped,combined with devices for guiding and directing the bar into the mouthof the heating-furnace; seventh, to afford means for the economicalproduction of wire rod or other small shapes from blooms by reducing thebloomin rolls to a billet or partially-formed product, cutting the sameto convenient length, and mechanically transferring and charging saidbilletsections intoa furnace for reheating, and then Serial No. 227.004.(N0 model.)

continuing their reduction to a finished pro duct by further passagethrough reducingrolls or train of rolls; eighth, to provide an apparatusor plant for rolling bars or billets from blooms, cutting the billets orpartiallyreduced product into sections, and automatically transferringand charging the same into a reheating-furnace, and then reducing saidbillets by rolling into wire rods and reeling the finished product, theoperation being performed by direct or continuous process. These objectsI attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of whichare illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and explaincd in thefollowing description, the particular subject-matter claimed beinghereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view illustrating the nature of myimproved mechanism for cutting up, transferring, and automaticallycharging metal bars or billets. Fig. 2 is a transverse section at theposition of line to w on Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrow. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section at the position of line at mon Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing myinvention as employed in aplant for reducing and cutting up blooms into billets, automaticallytransferring the} billets into a reheating-furnace. and reducing thesame to wire rods. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of a similar plan,showing a modified arrangement of the rolls in the billet-forming mill.

In accord with the practice contemplated in my present invention, themetal is primarily heated in the form of blooms of any convenient size,which blooms are then rolled down or reduced into billet-bars of, say,about one inch square (more or less) by a series of reducing passes inproperlyarranged rolling apparatus. The bars are deliveredlongitudinally onto a roller-bed or receiving-table as they come fromthe billet-forming apparatus. In connection with this roller bed ortable, I arrange means for cutting the bars into billets of convenientlength, which preferably consists of rotary shears or cutters disposedat the head and foot of the receiving-table, and having suitableclutches connected with their driving mechanism for throwing the cuttersinto and out of action at the required intervals of time. These clutchesmay, if desired, be

arranged for automatic action to operate when a given length of billethas been delivered from a rolling-mill, or be worked by hand, ifpreferred. At one side of the roller-bed, and extending laterallytherefrom, I arrange a series of rails, tracks, or transfer-ways, andabove said rails, and running parallel therewith, a series of chains orbelts operated by suitable sprockets or driving-pulleys. Said chainbelts are provided with hooks, lugs, or prongs that engage the billetand drag it laterallyfrom the delivery-bed along the transfer-way untilit reaches a position Where it can drop away from the chain. Openings orpassway-spaces are provided at intervals in the rails of thetransfer-way at such positions as it is desired to deliver the billets,and movable gates are combined with the rails for closing said openings,so that the billets will pass across them, or for opening the passwaysto permit the billets to fall through the space.

Combined with the transfer-way and means for moving the billet along thesame at the position or positions of delivery I arrange chargingmechanism provided with oppositelyconverging advancing surfaces, betweenwhich the billet is thrown or falls by gravity, which surfaces, actingby gripping and friction, project the billet forward as required. Thischarging mechanism is preferably a series of rolls arranged in pairs,and made of conical form or upwardly tapered, fixed to or running onupright axial shafts, and rotated by power driving mechanism, so thatwhen the billet falls from the transfer-way it will be immediatelycaught or gripped between the roll-surfaces, and thereby projectedforward into the furnace by rotative action of the rolls. Guiderolls orguide-plates are provided for support ing and directing the billet asrequired to properly project it into the furnace.

The mechanism for transferring, shearing, and charging the billets isprovided with suit able driving-shafts and gears, and a motor or engineis provided for imparting the operative power and motion. Suitableclutches are arranged in connection with the driving-shafts and gearingfor throwing the different parts of the mechanism into and out ofaction.

The transfer-rails may extend any required distance, and any desirednumber of delivery intervals and gates may be employed, and the transferway may embrace any number of tracks or supporting-rails and carriers orbelts in the series, according to the length of the billets which it isdesired to handle.

In referring to parts, A indicates the bed or table onto which thebillets are delivered from the billet-forming mill B. Said table is preferably provided with a series of rolls, a, mounted in suitable bearingsto run loose, so that the billet will run forward upon the table withoutundue friction.

0 indicates a shearing device located near the head of the table forsevering the billet into sections, and 0 indicates a similar shear rearend of the tracks.

at the foot of the table for cutting off the crop ends of the billets.

D indicates a driving-shaft operated by the engine E, and D a shaft fortransmitting power and motion to the second shear devices. Therespective shears, G and G, are provided with suitableoperating-gearing, G and with clutches O for throwing them into and outof action. The shaft D is provided with suitable connecting-gears, as atd d.

' Findicates the laterally-extended rails'or tracks upon which thebillets are supported and'transferred from the roller-bed A. Said railsare preferably arranged in pairs, as indicated, the pairs being disposedat such intervals apart as will suitably support the billets fromsagging. In the present instance four tracks or pairs of rails areemployed, the apparatus being designed for transferring billets of abouttwenty-five feet length, (more or less,) or such billets as are employedfor rolling into wire rods. Above each of the tracks 'or pairs of railsis arranged an endless traveling chain belt, G, supported by aguide-pulley, g, at the front of the roller-bed, and by adrivingsprocket, h, fixed to an overhanging operating-shaft, H, at ornear the rear end of the transfer-tracks. Said shaft H carries thesprockets or pulleys for the entire series of chain belts, which are allsimultaneously and uniformly operated thereby. The shaft H is connectedby suitable gearing and the upright shaft H" with the driving-shaft D,which latter receives motion from the engine E, and a clutch, H", isprovided for throwing the chain mechanism into and out of action. Thetraveling chains or belts G are provided with lugs, hooks, or projectingfingers G, which engage the billet and move it along the tracks F, thesaid fingers on the several, belts being at correspondingv position, soas to move the billet parallel. The shaft H is supported by hangers Hfrom an overhead beam or frame, H, so as to allow the billets to passoff the The rear end of the tracks are preferably inclined downward, asindicated at F so that the billets can be delivered therefrom and piledonto a car or onto the floor by sliding them down the incline. Theportion F of the track is preferably made to swing up and down fordelivering the billets at any desired height from the floor. Atcorresponding intervals along the several tracks passways or openingsare formed, as at f, and suitable gates, f, are provided for closingsaid passways when it is desired to transfer the billets beyond theposition of the same. In the present instance the gates are made assliding bars, and are operated by arms connected with a rocker-shaft, fwhich is provided with a hand-lever, f, by means of which any series ofthe gates. can be opened and closed. 7 l

The tracks F are supported on beams or girders J, in connection withframes or standards J, near the passways f.

I indicates the series of rolls for charging the billets into thefurnace. Said rolls are preferably mounted on upright shafts rotated bymeans of suitable gearing from an operating-shaft, I, which in turn isoperated by the driving-shaft D. Clutches I are provided for throwingthe roll mechanism into and out of action. The rolls I are disposed inpairs, one, two, or more pairs being employed, as preferred. In thepresent instanceI have shown a series of four pairs in each of thecharging devices, two pairs being geared for operation by the shaft 1and two pairs arranged to run loose or to serve simply as guide-rolls,power being applied only to the geared pairs, as indicated in Fig. 3. Itis obvious, however, that all of the pairs of rolls I might be gearedand operated from the shaft, if preferred. The rolls I serve to grip thebar between advancing surfaces as it falls from the tracks F through thepassways f into the space between the rolls. The rolls I can be madeeither as shown in the right-hand series, Fig. 2, or in the left-handseries. In one case the rolls are made conical or tapering upward togive oppositelyconvergent surfaces, so that the billet will wedgebetween the surfaces as it is dropped between the rolls. In thisinstance the rolls are supported in stationary bearings and gearedtogether in pairs to cause the surfaces to move with uniform velocity.In the case of the rolls illustrated at the left-hand series, Fig. 2,the rolls are shown of cylindrical form, and one roll of each pair ismounted to run loose on a movable axis or swinging shaft that is fixedto a rockershaft, K, which latter shaft is furnished with a lever, K,connected with the piston of a hydraulic cylinder, K so that the rollscan be moved to or from each other for gripping and releasing the billetbetween the rollsurfaces by actionof the by draulic piston under controlof the valve V and its operatinglever V, which valve and valve-operatinglever may be placed at any convenient position adjacent to or at adistance from the cylinder, suitable pipe-connections'being provided forconducting the water from the valves to the cylinder.

L indicates horizontal rolls that are provided for supporting the barand preventing it from dropping too far down between the rolls I.

in and m indicate guide-rolls arranged adjacent to the front of thefurnace M. The roll m serves to support the billet from running on thebottom of the furnace, and the roll m serves to hold down the rear endof the billet from tilting up by preponderance of its for ward extremityas it runs into the furnace. Said rolls mm are preferably made adjnstable up and down in their supporting-frame, and are operated bysuitable sprocket-wheels and chains, m and drivinggearing m inconnection with operating-shaft I.

n and n indicate guide-plates which serve to assist in directing thebillets into the furnace.

In the present instance, as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I haveshown the transferringways as having three positions of delivery via,the passways f for first and second chargers and at the end of thetrack. It will be understood, however, that the apparatus can beconstructed with a greater or less number of positions for delivery, ifrequired, without departure from the nature of the invention. It is alsoobvious that a greater or less number of tracks or ways F andcarrier-belts G may be used accordingly as long or short billets are tobe handled.

The transfer and charging apparatus arranged as herein described couldbe employed for conveying and feeding hot bars into the passes ofrolling-mills in lieu of into the furnace. In such event therolling-mill would be located in line with the charging-way-as, forinstance, at the position in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated my invention as employed in a plantfor making,

transferring, and reducing billets complete from blooms into finishedwire rods.

Ndenotes the furnaceforheating the blooms to be reduced in thebillet-forming mill B, which mill maybe constructed as indicated in Fig.4, and as described in detail in my previous application for LettersPatent, Serial No. 225,995, or be made with a series of rolls disposedto operate in continuous order, or in other suitable manner. From thefinai pass of the rolling-mill B the billets run out direct or throughthe guide Z) onto the roller-bed A, and are there cut up by shear C andtransferred and charged by the mechanism which is above described, asfast as the billetsections are formed, into the furnace M, for reheatingor elevating the temperature to proper degree for the further reduction.

P indicates a continuous rod-rolling mill or rodreducing train, whichreceives the billets from the furnace M and reduces them to wire rods,which rods are automatically reeled, coiled, or wound up, alternately,by the reeling apparatus at R R, a suitable switch device, S, beingarranged for directing the rods alternately to the respective reels.

T indicates a chute for receiving billets in case any disarrangementoccurs in the transferring or charging mechanisms, or in the event of asurplus of billets being run from the mill B in excess of what can beconveniently charged into the'furnace M.

B indicates the engine for operating the mill B.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modification of the billet-forming mill,wherein the rolls are arranged operating in continuous order instead ofby back-and-forth passes.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination of a series of rolls having passes for reducing abloom to the billet form, an automatic transferring and chargingmechanism receiving the billets from said forming mill, and a reheatingfurnace into which the billets are delivered by said charging mechanism,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a series of rolls hav ing passes for reducing abloom to billet form, transferring mechanism receiving the billets fromsaid forming-'mill, a shearing mechanism cutting the billet intolengths, a charging mechanism, and a reheating-furnace into which thebillets are delivered by said mechanism as soon as formed, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination of a series of rolls for reducing the bloom to billetform, a shearing, transferring, and charging mechanism for re I ceivingthe billets from said forming-mill,

cutting them into lengths, and charging them, and a reheatingfurnaceintowhich the billets are delivered by said mechanism as soon as formed,and a reducing-traiu of rolls for completing the reduction of the billetinto awire rod or other desired finished product, substan tially as setforth.

4.. A transferring apparatus having tracks or supporting -ways andlaterally moving belts or carriers adapted for automatically effectinglateral transfer of the billets, in combination with automatic chargingmechanism, substantially as described, having a series ofoppositely-rotating rolls to the advancing surfaces of which the billetsare delivered from said carriers, and means, as described, for impartingmotion thereto for projecting the billets longitudinally to theheating-furnace or place of deposit, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the'roller-bed or re ceiving-table, the tracks ortransfer-ways extending laterally therefrom, overhanging chain beltshaving hooks or engaging lugs moving along said tracks, thebelt-operating wheels and shaft, and charging mechanism, whereby the baror billet may be discharged from said transfer devices and advanced inlongitudinal direction, substantially as set forth. I

6. In a billet transferring mechanism, a transfer-way provided atintervals with openings through which a billet can drop, in combination, with transfer Ways or tracks provided at intervals withopenings and chains or devices for moving a billet supported thereon, ofadjustable gates for closing said openings, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

8 A transfer mechanism consisting of a table on which billets arereceived, a system of laterally-disposed tracks having gateways atintervals of their length, and overhanging traveling belts or chains.having projections which engage and move the billet along the tracks,and. charging mechanism disposed for receiving the billets as they fallthrough the gateway and moving them 1ongitudinally,substantially as setforth.

9. A billet-charger provided with a series of oppositely-rotating rollsarranged in pairs, between the adjacent surfaces of which the billet isgripped and moved in the direction of its length by frictional contactof the surfaces, substantially as set forth.

10. A billet-charger having pairs of oppositely-rotative conoidal rolls,between the converging surfaces of which the billet is re ceived and byrotation of the rolls advanced to the heating-furnaceorplace of deposit,substantially as set forth.-

ll. The combination, with the transfertracks and the endlessbeltcarrier, of the charging-rolls .disposed in pairs in position forreceiving the bar as it falls from said transfer-tracks between theiradjacent advancing surfaces, and means for rotating said rolls forimparting longitudinal movement to said bar, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with a heating-furnace, of charging apparatushaving chargingrolls arranged on upright rotating shafts in pairs inposition for receiving the bar or billet between the adjacentroll-surfaces, and means, substantially as described, for forcing one ofsaid rolls in a pair toward the other, and thereby gripping the bar orbillet between the advancing surfaces of the rolls, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

13. The combination, with the chargingrolls, whereby the bar is advancedlongitudinally, of adjustable guide-rolls disposed at the mouth of-thefurnace for directing the billet, substantially as set forth.

let. The combination, with the transferchains G, tracks F, androller'bed, of'the shearing mechanism disposed'in relation to saidroller-bed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WVitness my hand this 3d day of February, A. D. 1887.

FRED H. DANIELS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLnNUs.

